Synonyms for divide
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Apportion — to share (something) by dividing it
apportion, distribute, share, portion, share out, divvy up informal, allot, deal out, assign, parcel out, deal, dole out, dispense, mete
Definitions
- v. 1
To split or separate (something) into two or more parts.
a wall divides two houses; a stream divides the towns
- v. 2
To separate into two or more parts.
- v. 3
To share (something) by dividing it.
How shall we divide this pie?
Related words
- Word family
- dividable divider divvy dividend divisive divisible
- Phrases
- divide up digital divide divide and choose divide and conquer divide and rule drainage divide water divide
- Is a kind of
- disjoin
Forms
- Past participle
- divided
e.g. divided → apportioned, distributed, shared, portioned…
Choose the right word
To allot or assign may be to make an arbitrary division; the same is true of distribute or divide.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- distribute We would like to distribute your product in Japan.
- assign Tom is authorised to assign us work assignments.
- apportion We need to figure out how to apportion the food.
- distinguish We cannot distinguish her from her younger sister.
- segregate Racist politicians want to segregate schools again.
- alienate If you don't want to alienate people, you must be kind.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| divide | rising | |
| distribute | steady | |
| assign | steady | |
| apportion | falling | |
| distinguish | steady | |
| segregate | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- part1, open2, deal1, fork1, slit1, mete1, rend
- 5 letters
- share1, split1, shear1, sever2, allot2
- 6 letters
- assign2, detach2, cleave1, sunder2, winnow2, bisect
- 7 letters
- section2, portion2, divorce2, dissect2, diverge2, disjoin, dispart
- 8 letters
- separate3, fraction2, dispense2, alienate3, estrange2, disunite, dissever
- 9 letters
- partition3, disengage3, segregate3, apportion3, demarcate, dimidiate, disaffect3
- 10 letters
- distribute3, disconnect3, dissociate4
- 11 letters
- distinguish3
- 12 letters
- disintegrate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (open2 = 2 syllables).